Glee co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have announced they are starting a college tuition fund for Naya Rivera's son.
The 33-year-old actor's body was pulled from Lake Piru in California after she disappeared during a boat outing with four-year-old Josey.
Rivera starred as Santana Lopez in the hit musical comedy drama, wowing audiences with her triple threat of singing, dancing and acting, as well as being a hero for her LGBTQIA+ character.
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Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan have released a statement reflecting on working with Rivera, which also reveals their plans to support Josey.
The statement to Us Weekly said: "Our hearts go out to her family, especially her mom, Yolanda, who was a big part of the Glee family and her son Josey. The three of us are currently in the process of creating a college fund for the beautiful son Naya loved most of all."
The alarm was raised for Naya and Josey's welfare when the boat they had rented on Lake Piru didn't return on time. Authorities eventually found the boat drifting in the water, with the four-year-old asleep.
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The co-creators added that her death was devastating and has hit them all very hard.
"Naya wasn't a series regular when we cast her on Glee," they said. "She didn't have more than a few lines in the pilot. But it didn't take more than an episode or two for us to realise that we had lucked into finding one of the most talented, special stars we would ever have the pleasure of working with.
"Naya could act, she could dance, and she could sing (could she ever sing!) She could nail a joke as well as she could crush you with an emotional scene... She was a joy to write for, a joy to direct and a joy to be around."
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They also paid tribute to her legacy as being a powerful symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community through her on-screen relationship with Heather Morris' character Brittany.
"It was one of the first times an openly lesbian, high school relationship was seen on network television and Naya understood what 'Brittana' meant to the many young women who were seeing themselves represented on television for the first time," they concluded.
Naya's body has been taken to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office to be formally identified, which will also allow a formal autopsy to be carried out.
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The examiner has since ruled Naya's death to be an 'accidental drowning'.
Authorities believe the actor and singer 'mustered enough energy' to save her son from drowning, however didn't have enough to save herself.
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